December 30, 2016 | Princeton Online article | Article.pdf

For youth with disabilities who want to be gainfully employed, it is critical they receive services that ensure they are adequately prepared to adapt to the competitive workplace environment. To meet his need, Community Options provides the School to Employment Program (STEP) for these youth and their families in New Jersey.

STEP’s highly trained employment specialists and job coaches work side-by-side with junior and senior year high school students, their families, and their Individual Education Plan team to assess the student’s strengths, preferences, and interests. Using these assessments, STEP develops unpaid internship opportunities for students at local job sites from our network of participating businesses, which include hospitals, restaurants, and retail stores.

Designed to integrate smoothly into the students’ academic programming, students can take core classes for a half day and then participate in two or more hours of hands-on skill building employment training at the job site. Students work at each site for six weeks until rotating to a new experience, providing them with a wide range of tangible work skills and valuable work experiences. STEP also provides free transportation, summer programs, and post-graduation job placement assistance.

The STEP team use best practices and technology to train students on how to acquire the physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills needed to effectively and efficiently transition from high school to independent adult life. In addition to integrated community-based instruction, students also participate in job clubs that highlight various topics such as: Writing a Resume and Cover Letter, Interviewing Skills, and Effective Communication Skills.

Community Options has been operating STEP in NJ for over eight years and continues to have high success rates. Of the fifteen students who were part of the 2015-2016 program in New Jersey, over half have advanced forward in their careers. STEP has received praise for its low student-to-job coach ratio and staffing structure. Each student receives an individualized experience tailored to their specialized needs, while job coaches are still able to supervise multiple students in different rotations at the same location. STEP is 100% community-based, without a waiting list. STEP currently serves schools in Allentown, Hamilton, Lawrence, Manalapan, Metuchen, Millstone, Robbinsville, and West Windsor-Plainsboro.

For the parent or caregiver, STEP also provides assistance in navigating the vocational services network and guidance through the complicated postsecondary funding process. Empowered with the right knowledge and resources, families can take comfort knowing they’re meeting all of their child’s transition needs.

Families in need of STEP support and services can contact Dina Casalaspro at Dina.Casalaspro@comop.org or Meghan Hunter at Meghan.hunter@comop.org

To learn more about STEP, please visit this program’s webpage at www.transitionschooltowork.org/services/

August 07, 2016 | The Star-Ledger article.pdf | NJ.com online article

Diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome as a boy, Jonah, above, is now 21 and reaching the maximum of his abilities through Community Options’ School to Employment Program (STEP), which assists young adults with disabilities planning for their futures in the workforce.

When Laura and Dennis Waters of Lawrence Township received the news that their son, Jonah, was diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome, they were devastated. Fragile X is a genetic disease that often manifested in severe intellectual abilities, especially in boys. Although Jonah’s future seemed bleak, Laura and Dennis never wavered in their commitment to provide Jonah with the best medical care and social support. Now 21, Jonah is reaching the maximum of his abilities thanks in large part to his involvement in Community Options’ School To Employment Program (STEP), which helps young adults with disabilities plan for their futures in the workforce.

STEP begins at the end of a qualifying candidate’s junior year in high school. Community Options staff works with the student, family members, and child study team to identify different types of employment opportunities that may be a good personal and professional match for the student. This often is the best way for students with disabilities to enter the workforce while also assessing preferences and aptitudes.

“Working a summer job, or a part-time job, when we were in high school was an important life milestone,” said Robert Stack, president and chief executive officer of Community Options. “Students with disabilities really learn more about the world of work through real life experiences. The business community benefits when we make the right fit. They can find a good worker. The student finds a good job. If it doesn’t work out, we try something else. However, everyone benefits from the experience. In every instance, everyone learns and everyone wins.”

In the case of Jonah, Meghan Hunter, STEP regional director, and her staff explored potential employment opportunities within the local community. They met with employers at hospitals, retail stores, pharmaceutical companies, law firms, shelters and supermarkets where Jonah could enhance his job skills and prepare for future employment. After much searching, Jonah was placed at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (UMCPP).

‘In the last three years, STEP has been preparing me for a job,’ says Alex B., above, a STEP participant shown grooming a dog. ‘STEP has helped me in putting a resume together that lists the many jobs I have done. It’s given me an opportunity to help out and work with other people.

“Jonah worked in several jobs at UMCPP,” Hunter said. “He first worked in the stock room and did not like it. He then tried working in the environmental services department and had some difficulties. Then he found his dream job: the kitchen. Jonah prepares desserts and snacks for patients. He loves his job and enjoys interacting with his co-workers in the kitchen.”

Laura and Dennis couldn’t be happier with Jonah’s progress.

“We’ve been particularly impressed with STEP’s ability to differentiate needs among the students and craft job placements where they can learn and succeed,” Laura said.

“We both feel that this opportunity is a weight lifted off both Jonah and ourselves,” Dennis said.

By working together with individuals like Jonah, his family, school educators, and employers, the STEP team can find the proper job match that helps young adults with disabilities develop skills and become productive in their vocations.

For more than 25 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment programs for people with disabilities — serving thousands of people through 38 offices across 10 states. Community Options provides advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities because all people — regardless of ability level — should live and work in the community with dignity, choice and self-determination. For more information, visit comop.org or call (609) 951-9900.

For those interested in empowering the individuals whom Community Options serves, the organization also has internal job vacancies. For more details, visit
comop.org/about-us/careers. Interested individuals can fill out an employment application online. All offers are contingent on a successful background check. Community Options is an equal opportunity employer.

Showing 1 Comment

Date: August 8, 2016 at 2:02:01 PM EDT
I particularly like the focus here on Jonah. Makes his challenges, and strength, very real for the readers. And of course your continued amazing work…..very proud to know you! – John F. Crowley – Chairman & CEO Amicus Therapeutics